Description
Steenbergs Organic Tellicherry Peppercorns are the fruit of a tropical, woody climbing vine, Piper nigrum, which can reach up to 10m in height (33ft). However, pepper vines need a host tree to grow up, with for example areca nut, eucalyptus or palm trees used or in Malaysia pepper vines are grown up poles or trellises. The pepper vine has dark-green oval leaves that vary in size depending on the cultivar grown, but thy average at about 18cm long (7 inches) and 12cm (5 inches) wide. Little flowers hang down in catkins of 3-15cm in length (1-6 inches) within the dense leafy foliage. From these, the peppercorn fruits grow on densely packed spikes of 5-15cm in length (2-6 inches), containing up to 50 individual berries. These pepper fruits start out an intense green then ripen to a yellow colour before turning a reddish-pink colour when fully ripe. for more on pepper.
However, most pepper fruits are harvested when still green and processed to make green, black and white peppercorns. For black peppercorns, the berries are picked when they have grown to full size but have not yet ripened, traditionally some six months after initial flowering just as a couple of berries have started to change to a yellow colour. These still green fruits are then laid out on concrete drying yards in the sun to dry. During this process, the moisture level falls to around 12% of weight and the berries wrinkle up into their characteristic knarled shape. Simultaneously, an enzymatic reaction takes place in the pericarp of the peppercorn which turns the green skin dark brown and produces the volatile oil, piperine, along with several other oleoresins that make the warming, oily flavours that are classic for black pepper’s awesome taste. The black pepper is then cleaned from extraneous stuff, packed and stored.
Details
- Flavours: Hot
- Cuisines: African, British, European, Indian, Middle Eastern
- Ingredient features: Organic, Salt free, Sugar free, Vegan
Nutritional information
- Values per 100g:
- Energy 355kCal; 1504kJ
- Fat 2.8g
- Carbohydrates 70.7g
- Protein 11.7g
- Values per 2.5g teaspoon:
- Energy 9kCal; 38kJ
- Fat 0.1g
- Carbohydrates 1.8g
- Protein 0.3g
Seaweed says
Perfect for seasoning your Sunday roast when combined with Organic Fleur de Sel and fresh herbs!
Ingredients
Black Peppercorns
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